Gynecologic Cancers

Gynecologic Cancers

Gynecologic cancers occur when abnormal cells form in the tissues of the female reproductive system, which includes the cervix, uterus and ovaries.
Six common types of cancers affect women: breast, cervical, uterine, ovarian, vaginal and vulvar. See your gynecologist if you notice vaginal bleeding, have unusual vaginal discharge, feel pelvic pain or have pain while having sex.
Gynecologic cancers can grow slowly or quickly, depending on where tumors grow in our bodies. Although some precancerous cells take years to turn cancerous, an annual test called a Pap smear can help detect changes in your cervix. Schedule an annual exam with your gynecologist today, and always check your breasts monthly for unusual lumps.
If these cancers are not caught early, aggressive treatments may be needed, such as removal of parts of the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are also commonly used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.

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Gynecologic cancers are typically caused by a genetic mutation at the cellular level in a woman's reproductive organs. Cells can begin to grow abnormally fast and form a tumor. These cells can then metastasize and infect other organs and body systems. The cause of such cancers is often not clear; risk factors can include an unhealthy diet and lifestyle (smoking, lack of exercise, etc.) and a family history of disease. Other risk factors may be specific to the type of gynecologic cancer. For example, infection with the human papilloma virus raises the risk for cervical cancer, and diabetes or high blood pressure make uterine and endometrial cancers more likely.

Chemotherapy drugs treat cancer by moving through the body to kill cancer cells or prevent them from dividing. Drugs can be swallowed or injected. Chemotherapy can be used before or after surgery for uterine sarcoma; after surgery it can be used to clean up any remaining cancer cells or prevent a relapse. There are many drugs and drug combinations that can be used in chemotherapy. The treatment plan will depend on the extent of the cancer and the health of the patient.

Cervical cancer, peritoneal cancer, abnormal bleeding and other conditions are just some of the many treated by gynecological oncologists like Samar Nahas, MD, from Riverside Community Hospital. Watch this video to learn more.

The major benefit of robotic surgery for gynecologic cancers is that it's a less invasive surgery. Watch this video to learn more from Susan Crockett, MD, obstetrics and gynecology at Northeast Methodist Hospital.

Ovarian, uterine and cervical cancers can all be treated with robotic surgery, says Lino Montilla, MD from Reston Hospital Center. Learn about the other cancers that can be treated with robotics in this video.

The causes and risk factors of gynecologic cancer vary among the different types, but there are some common risks:HPV infectionDES exposure (synthetic estrogen given to women before 1971 during pregnancy to prevent miscarriage, but ultimately causing health risks to the expectant mother and daughters/son they carried)SmokingHIV/AIDS infectionThere are also gynecologic risk factors that we have no control over like age, race and family history of certain diseases and conditions that elevate our risk. A risk factor is not a prerequisite to developing a disease; some women will still develop a gynecologic cancer despite not having any risk factor for it.

A gynecologic oncology specialist is a medical doctor who receives an additional four years of training after completing a residency in obstetrics and gynecology. During this training, he or she acquires highly specialized expertise to stage, diagnose and treat all types of gynecologic cancer.

A gynecologic oncologist is trained to perform surgical procedures to remove as much cancer as possible, while sparing healthy tissue. These procedures often involve nearby organs and may include: colon resection, splenectomy and removal of tumors from the diaphragm.

In addition to learning these specialized surgical techniques, a gynecologic oncologist is trained to provide chemotherapy and comprehensive oncology care to a woman throughout the course of ovarian cancer treatment.

Regular pelvic exams can help your doctor detect some types of gynecologic cancers in their early stages, when treatment is usually most successful. Cervical cancer, vaginal cancer, and vulvar cancer are often diagnosed this way. Due to heightened awareness of the importance of early detection to successful cancer treatment, the rates of incidence of cervical and other types of gynecologic cancers have been greatly reduced over the past 40 years.